CHAPTER TWO
The plan had been simple: stakeout at the Decepticon air base on Beta Centaris IV, discreetly sabotage their defense grid, and then signal the Skyfire to drop the payload.
But of course, Flareup had to ruin it all by making a big show of it.
Heatwave cursed under his breath as Seekers from all sides strafed him and his team as they drove across Beta Centaris' rocky terrain in vehicle mode.
"I swear," he muttered to himself. "If Flareup makes it out of there alive, I'm going to make her wish she hadn't."
"Cool it down, boss," said Smokescreen from beside him. "Worry about the punishments after we get out of this alive. You know, if we ever do."
Heatwave hated to admit it, but the younger Autobot was right. Screeching to a halt, he transformed from his fire truck form into his burly robot form and aimed his arm cannons at the strafing Seekers. As he fired at them, he called out to Smokescreen.
"Have Evac try to find her! If the Seekers are all out here chasing us, then maybe they haven't captured her yet."
"Unless she's dead."
"...I thought I was the pessimist here."
* * *
Flareup grunted as she dug herself out of the rubble she had created. When Heatwave told her that the sabotage of the Decepticons' defense grid had to be discreet, she had willfully ignored that part and brought all of the explosives she could carry.
Now she knew why Heatwave had told her to be discreet.
Sirens blared throughout the Decepticon base. Hearing the march of troopers drawing closer to the room she was in, Flareup quickly darted towards a large computer connected to the destroyed defense grid and hid in its shadow. Not long after, the door was kicked open and a gold and black Seeker, flanked by five Vehicons, stormed in.
"Well, well," Contrail muttered. "It appears that we've been sabotaged. The culprit shouldn't have gotten far."
"Maybe they were killed in the blast," one of the Vehicons said. "Or crushed by the rubble."
"Or maybe you're just stupid," the Seeker snarled. "If you simply used that visor of yours, you would see an opening in the rubble just big enough to fit a Cybertronian."
"Meaning...?"
"Meaning our saboteur is awfully nearby."
Knowing that it would be inevitable either way, Flareup brought out her crossbow and moved into clear view of the Decepticons. The five Vehicons instantly raised their blasters while Contrail merely smirked.
"Ah, an Autobot. I should have figured. You know the drill, boys."
The Vehicons fired their weapons while Flareup ducked and rolled, swinging out her leg to trip one Vehicon and send him colliding into another. In the midst of their confusion, Flareup converted into her motorcycle form and drove out of the room, evading the firepower of Contrail's null-rays.
"Flareup to Heatwave!" she called on her internal radio. "Can you read me? I'm in a sticky situation."
"Let me guess: you're being chased by Decepticons throughout their own base."
"Wow, you're good," she said dryly. "Can you send some backup?"
"Evac should be heading towards your position. Just hand in there."
As if I have much choice, Flareup though as she swerved around a corner.
* * *
"He did say to wait until he gave the signal."
Grimlock ignored Swoop as he stared out the Skyfire's viewport. It was now five minutes past the time Heatwave had given them to drop the payload on the Decepticons' base, but the commander had yet to give the signal.
"Maybe they all got their tailpipes handed to them," said Snarl. "I think we should just go down their anyway. Get this thing over with."
Before Grimlock could respond, an Autobot ship, smaller in size compared to the Skyfire, suddenly jumped out of hyperspace next to them. Grimlock narrowed his visor, recognizing the ship's design.
"Company," Sludge said. "Who do you think it is?"
Grimlock grunted. "Kup."
* * *
"Flareup, do you copy?"
Quickly transforming to her robot mode, Flareup scored a few shots at her pursuers before answering the call.
"I copy, Evac. Where are you?"
"Judging by the sounds of blaster fire I'm hearing right now, I should be right above you. Take cover while I blast an opening."
"No," Flareup snapped. "Your launchers won't be able to work in time. I have enough ammo in my frag launcher, so stand back."
"Frag launch-? You'll bring the ceiling down on yourself!"
Flareup smirked. "Then hopefully I can bring some of these 'Cons down with me."
Tuning out Evac's protests, she aimed her frag launcher at the ceiling and fired. Pieces of metal instantly began to fall on her, but Evac's tow-hook managed to come through it and Flareup grabbed onto it in time before the rubble could crush her. As Evac reeled her up, Flareup got a clear view of what was going on outside the base.
Seekers and Vehicons were scurrying for cover as two Autobot ships- the Skyfire being one of them- bombarded the battlefield. When Grimlock and the Dynobots started to jump down from their vessel, the Decepticons became even more terrified and began to retreat. In time, the air base was taken and several 'Cons -- including Contrail -- were captured.
"A job well done, Autobots," Heatwave said to the others. "Now, let's get these 'Cons onto the Skyfire and taken to Garrus-9."
While Flareup was about to help them in rounding up the Seekers, she was suddenly stopped by a hand falling on her shoulder. She turned to see an old, greenish-blue Autobot standing before her.
"Sergeant Kup," she said, hastily saluting the veteran. "What brings you here?"
"You do," Kup replied. "I have an offer for you, one which I hope you'll accept since it would benefit the Autobot cause greatly."
"Just name it," Flareup said eagerly.
Kup smirked. "How would you like to join the Wreckers?"
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